Throughout his professional life, Juergen Schrempp (born 1944) has been willing to make bold decisions and take big risks. After being named chairman of Daimler-Benz, Germany's largest industrial company, he slashed ten percent of its workforce, eliminated unprofitable business units, and set ambitious goals for the future. Schrempp is credited with transforming the ailing giant, which had suffered record losses, into a profitable venture. It is hoped that he will accomplish similar success as cochairman of DaimlerChrysler.

Juergen Schrempp was born on September 15, 1944, in the small university town of Freiburg, in southern Germany, at a time when World War II was still raging throughout Europe. His father, a clerk at the university, was able to provide his son with the comforts of a middle class life. Schrempp went to parties in high school, enjoyed skiing, and played the trumpet. True to the spirit with which he would eventually run...